Mark Ellwood

Forget golf course homes – why not buy a pad at a F1 track? Escapade Silverstone, stitched into the infield of Britain’s grand old circuit, threads 60 low‑slung villas along the racing line at Copse, Maggots and Becketts, so close you’ll feel the downforce in your martini. Think of it as a five‑star hotel spliced with a private members’ paddock. The units are wrapped around a glassy clubhouse with pool, gym, spa, restaurant and roof terrace all staring straight at the track. Prices started in the mid‑six figures and climb comfortably north of £2m for a fully loaded, trackside four‑bed. Each residence sits on a 125‑year commercial lease, typically held in an SPV, with owners taking a slice of room revenue instead of paying service charges – and, yes, enjoying markedly gentler transaction taxes than a straight residential purchase. Personal use is rationed: roughly 30 nights per bedroom per year, with marquee events like the Grand Prix gobbling up your allowance at warp speed. The result is a new kind of sport‑home: less retiree on the back nine, more ultra‑high‑net‑worth with a GT3 RS, a Gulfstream and a P&L to justify both. We want to explore this concept and see how the idea of living among the sporting elite is spreading beyond a mansion near the 19th hole. I want to hear from the following: -- Developers who have created for-sale homes (not hotels) that are anchored by, say, a race track or a football stadium. -- Branded residences where the brand in question is a sports team or franchise - think Manchester United or Liverpool, or the Yankees. -- Real estate agents who have worked on such projects and can talk to who buys and why. -- Buyers at such projects who can explain their appeal. Please note: I am NOT looking for anything golf-related in any way. Please mark the subject line: SPORTING RESIDENCES